Farmers Swap Tractors for Disability Care in Rural Australia

Brody Thompson spent his days staring at the same view from a tractor seat, feeling stuck in a rut on his family farm. When a friend from his local football club suggested disability support work, the 24-year-old took a chance that would change everything.

Thompson now works for a Riverland NDIS provider where men make up half the workforce, a dramatic shift in a field traditionally dominated by women. He mentors children and young adults alongside more than a dozen other male support workers, spending his days playing sports, hitting the gym, and helping clients build independence.

"I thought you're in-house just caring all the time, getting people up out of bed, toileting and showering them," Thompson said. "There's so much more to it. Once you're all in, you realize how much need there is and how much you can help."

Max Hall, one of Thompson's clients, lights up when talking about his male carers who share his love of AFL football. The 20-year-old Adelaide Crows supporter even tolerates Thompson's loyalty to rival team Hawthorn because the connection runs deeper than sports.

Haiden Button's story mirrors Thompson's journey from trade work to care. After more than a decade as a crash repairer, the 32-year-old recognized the toll his job was taking on his health and walked away from the career that defined his identity.

"Without making it sound too dramatic, changing to disability support work has changed my life for the better," Button said. "There's been challenging days for sure, but none where I wouldn't want to be here."

The Ripple Effect

The Riverland shift reflects a broader national transformation. Men in disability support work grew from 29 percent in 2015 to 33 percent in 2025, according to the National Disability Services workforce census of over 60,000 workers.

Karen Stace, NDS director of policy and advocacy, sees the change as progress toward better support for people with disabilities. "The bigger opportunity is ensuring the sector can invest in attracting and retaining a diverse, skilled workforce so people with disability can access high-quality support wherever they live," she said.

The trend coincides with declining apprenticeship completions across Australia, suggesting young men are finding purpose in care work that traditional trades once provided. For Thompson and Button, the switch brought not just income but joy, physical activity, and daily proof that they're making a real difference.

These former farmers and tradesmen are proving that caring careers offer everything they valued in their old jobs—hard work, tangible results, and community contribution—plus something they never expected: coming home happy every single day.